Heather Farley
Chief Executive Officer
Heather Farley is CEO of Access Intelligence, a role she assumed in 2023 after more than three decades with the company in senior leadership positions, including Chief Operating Officer. Throughout her career, she has led organizations through periods of transformation — integrating acquisitions, navigating the company through the pandemic, and positioning the business for sustained growth and innovation in an increasingly dynamic media and events landscape.
A passionate advocate for leadership development and community-building, Heather believes deeply in creating pathways for others to grow and lead. She partners closely with her teams to expand Access Intelligence through strategic acquisitions, new product launches, and the continued evolution of the company into a global media platform anchored by live events and highly engaged professional communities.
Heather is widely respected across the B2B and events industries and currently serves as Vice Chair of the Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO). She was also honored as the McAllister Fellow at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, where she worked with both undergraduate and graduate students, reflecting her commitment to mentoring the next generation of industry leaders.
Her leadership is defined by resilience, curiosity, and a belief that strong communities — and strong businesses — are built by empowering people to step forward, take risks, and shape the future.